I-95 bridge scare precedes pursuit, arrest

PORTSMOUTH — A Berwick, Maine man who led police on a high speed car chase in 2005 was arrested following a similar pursuit ending in a crash Monday morning.

Staff reports

PORTSMOUTH — A Berwick, Maine man who led police on a high speed car chase in 2005 was arrested following a similar pursuit ending in a crash Monday morning.

Kenneth L. Jones, 34, of 30 School St., in Berwick, Maine, appeared ready to jump off the Piscataqua River Bridge Monday morning before leading state and local police on a chase, intentionally striking two cruisers and narrowly missing others, police said.

The pursuit ended between Exits 8 and 9 on the Spaulding Turnpike in Dover, after the minivan struck a police cruiser, spun out of control and landed in a ditch. During the chase, which went down Market Street, Woodbury Avenue and Interstate 95 in Portsmouth and Newington, two cruisers were seriously damaged and a state trooper was nearly struck by the suspect's vehicle.

Police say Jones tried to escape after the blue 1996 Plymouth Voyager minivan landed in the ditch and was pinned by a cruiser. Police allege Jones became unruly and was subdued after police used a Tazer on him. Two troopers sustained injuries while trying to handcuff Jones, police said.

Jones was charged with four counts of reckless conduct, resisting arrest, disobeying a police officer and operating after suspension. He was held on $150,000 cash bail and is scheduled to be arraigned by video at Dover District Court at 10:30 a.m. today

At approximately 8:45 a.m., a motorist on Interstate 95 told state police a man looked like he was about to jump off the Piscataqua River Bridge. Hampton Union reporter Susan Morse, on her way into work, said a van stopped at the top of the I-95 bridge in the southbound breakdown lane.

When she looked in her rear view mirror a moment later, "much to my horror," she saw the driver was on the other side of the guardrail facing the water. "I figured he was ready to jump."

Four troopers responded to the bridge to find Jones getting back into his van, which was then observed heading southbound on I-95 in the breakdown lane at a very slow speed. The driver made eye contact with officers in cruisers that were heading northbound over the bridge.

State Police Sgt. Gary Wood positioned himself on Market Street at the bottom of Exit 7, attempting to stop the vehicle, and stepped outside the cruiser to wave down Jones. The driver allegedly increased his speed and drove directly at Wood, who had to move quickly to avoid being struck by the van, and the chase ensued.

Portsmouth Police Capt. David "Lou" Ferland said the chase continued down Market Street and on to Woodbury Avenue in Newington, then came back in the opposite direction toward downtown Portsmouth. Police set up spike strips and successfully redirected the chase away from the downtown and onto I-95 southbound and the Spaulding Turnpike northbound.

"It wasn't long. The chase was in and out of Portsmouth in a matter of minutes," said Ferland.

According to state police, Jones continually attempted to strike cruisers with his vehicle. At one point, near the exit to Pease International Tradeport, Jones allegedly turned to strike a cruiser. He took the exit, went through the intersection without stopping and continued northbound on the Spaulding Turnpike.

The Dover tolls were evacuated, and another set of spike strips deployed. The vehicle spun out of control but made it through the toll. Witnesses said Jones reached speeds between 70 and 90 mph.

Ferland said cruisers were also stationed at the Pease International Tradeport entrances as a precaution because there was a road race taking place. Dover police were stationed at Dover exits to prevent him from traveling into the downtown area.

According to police, Jones was combative while officers attempted to subdue him and continued to be so after being transported to Strafford County Jail.

Trooper John Hennessey will be charging Jones in both the Dover and Portsmouth district courts.

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